Bronzeville Beat: 1/2 Patricia Smith - Gwendolyn's Heir

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and selects Bronzeville Beat featuring the work of the poet Patricia Smith.

Born and raised on Chicago's West side, poet, teacher, and performance artist, Patricia came to verse late but is perhaps the true heir to the great Gwendolyn Brooks with her powerful and exact chronicles that make black lives matter.

In collections like Incendiary Art & Blood Dazzler, Smith takes on police shootings, Chicago history and the devastating impact of hurricane Katrina to sear poetry into society.

Presented by Maria Margaronis.

Producer: Mark Burman

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2020.